Iran-backed Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that they carried out two separate military operations targeting critical facilities belonging to Aramco in Saudi Arabia's Jazan and Yanbu cities.
In a statement on his X social media account, Saree said that Aramco facilities in Jazan were hit by dozens of ballistic missiles and drones first, followed by attacks on facilities in Yanbu using ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. Saree claimed that the targets were successfully hit.
The Houthi spokesperson stated that the naval blockade against Saudi Arabia is continuing and suggested that attacks could increase in the coming hours and days. Saudi Arabia has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attacks.
Mutual attacks in Yemen
Yemen's state television announced that Houthi militia reinforcements were targeted by airstrikes in the cities of Marib and Jawf. No information was provided about which side carried out the strikes, and the Houthis have not yet commented on the matter.
Ambassador criticizes Houthis
Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber argued on his X account that his country continues to support de-escalation and peace efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution that would end the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Alleging that the Houthis have turned Yemen into a pawn in the hands of foreign powers, Al Jaber said: 'Houthi terrorists continue to insist on the path of escalation and violence rather than de-escalation and peace, in order to serve foreign agendas that have nothing to do with Yemen or the interests of its people.'
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council head: Houthis serve Iran's agenda
For his part, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi stressed on the X platform the government's determination to protect sea lanes and combat terrorism. Alimi noted that the Yemeni government continues close cooperation with the Arab Coalition and its international partners.
Accusing the Houthis of 'continuing escalation in order to serve Iran's agenda and jeopardizing the interests of the Yemeni people,' Alimi said that this approach would only deplete the country's resources and would not alter the will of Yemenis to end the coup and restore state institutions.
Alimi also argued that the Houthis insist on plunging the country into successive crises whenever an opportunity for calm arises, and that they ignore the Yemeni people's aspirations for state, dignity, security, and stability.
Iran calls for dialogue
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei expressed concern in a written statement about the recent tension between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Pointing out that instability in the region must be prevented from deepening, Baghaei stressed that the Yemen crisis cannot be solved by military means and that the parties need to return to the dialogue process.
Baghaei said Iran would support constructive initiatives based on the 'agreed roadmap,' and called for the lifting of restrictions on Yemen, arguing that the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia is deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Background of the tension
Iran-backed Houthis had announced on July 20 that they were imposing a 'maritime navigation ban' against Saudi Arabia. On the evening of July 22, the Houthis claimed to have targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones, and that fires broke out on the vessels as a result of the attacks.
Although clashes occasionally occur between government forces and Houthis in Yemen, relative calm has prevailed since April 2022. The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and some other cities and provinces since September 2014.
